You definitely need experience under your belt. If your passenger doesn't know what they are doing, they could throw the weight of the bike and center of gravity entirely off, say in the apex of a turn. You really need experience riding and being able to adjust to certain conditions.

Me, I just dove in. I was riding for a year and luckily nothing happened. I've been riding chicks ever since... Granted I pay them well, but I still ride them none the less. I was a little nervous at first but that lasted about a mile or so. I've been riding for a long time now and I don't really thing twice about riding 2 up.

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I've been riding less than 6/mo in my full on squid days.
Things to watch out for. BRAKES. they dont work that well with the extra weight. The turning really depends on the passenger. If they know what they are doing, then track speed turns can be done. If they insist on sitting up streight when the bike leans, or worse yet if they keep on moving around, then even casual turns become difficult...

Right...usually if they know what they are doing, they can read your actions. If your cruising along and your hand is on your hip, they shouldn't have the death grip on you. I like it when they know to put their arms around me and put their hands on the tank for support. It is all good though, just go slow for the first few times and all will be well.

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Originally posted by DocThee I was riding for a year and luckily nothing happened. I've been riding chicks ever since... Granted I pay them well, but I still ride them none the less. I was a little nervous at first...

ROFTLMAO Now that's a well crafted statement if I've ever seen it.

Been riding for many seasons and still haven't taken on a pillion yet. Suppose I should before I get a new ride.

SportbikeWorld Supermoderator

Dragging knee is for the track, and dragging tail is for the lot. --Kane Friesen

When you're in a car, you're watching a movie; when you're on a bike, you're in the movie. --Robert Pirsig

My first passenger on my new bike was about three weeks after i got the bike,or right around 1000 miles. Not that its the same but i had been riding a medium sized (100cc) scooter for a few years with lots of different passengers. My first passenger on the scooter was right out of the dealership parking lot and onto a 50mph street in rush hour traffic-VERY VERY VERY scary. For me it took a lot more concentration and effort to make the new bike do what i wanted with a passenger on board. The biggest problem I have had so far was one of my passengers insisted on wiggling around constantly and caused me to off-balance a bit in a few slow turns. VERY scary for someone like me with little road time on a bike much bigger than I'm used to.

For the passenger it seemed liked bracing both hands on top of each other onto the tank was the safest position. They did complain of my short, jerky stops and start-ups which i eventually smoothed out after 15-20 miles of riding. I was pretty sore myself from leaning forward so much(i usually sit almost completely upright with a light grip on the bars when I'm on my own.) I still haven't figured out the best 2 person position just yet but I'm workin on it. Maybe some more skilled riders can help both of us out on this one

My number one rule though when having a passenger is MAKE them wear a helmet. My life would be ruined if i happen to crash and end up killing my best friend/mom/dad/girlfriend/whoever....
If you or they don't have a spare(that FITS) then it looks like they're walking. It's just that simple. Sorry, i usually don't like preaching but it's just very important to me...

I just bought my second bike, but didn't have more than 2-3K miles under my belt. My girlfriend at the time insisted I give her rides on the bike.

Pretty standard things already mentioned: noticed stopping power decreased, and slow cornering felt like I was learning it all over again, or riding a heavier bike because the extra weight. Once up to speed wasn't difficult. Got used to it after a while, never had any problems.

Like any total squid with a new bike, I was willing to give rides when I first got it. Basically because I didn't know any better. Usually they were short rides up the block and back, but some of the girls I "dated" were all into it, so I had to take a few for actual rides. At first it was scary, but I got over it quickly. It was probably a month or two before I took anyone though, so I did at least have a little experience before trying it. It doesn't change the mechanics of turning, just slows it way down. They passenger can really mess things up if they decide to lean opposite of you too, so make sure they understand to lean with you and not fidget. Once they learn that it's really pretty simple.

Anymore I won't take anyone save for my wife, and maybe my daughter when she is old enough (though the jury is still out on that one). Essentially I won't take anyone, as Katie would rather ride her own than on the back.

SportbikeWorld Supermoderator

The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all of fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomanical, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully. - Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion

I had my girl on the back within about a month of learning to ride. I realise now just how f*cking stupid I was. Thankfully we never had any problems.

My girl had ridden pillion many times before, on a previous boyfriend's bike, so she knew exactly how to react to accelerating, braking and turning. We never had any helmets clashes either, as she hung onto the rear handle and not me.

Also, being that she weighs f*ck-all (110lbs), she didn't upset the balance of the bike to a huge degree. I forgot she was there many times!

She rides her own bike now and I've not been asked by anyone to give them a ride, so I'm not sure what I'll say if it ever eventuates.

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